Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA393
2009-11-10 09:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
GSE ARRESTS 10 MORE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
how-toVZCZCXRO4246 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0393 3140955 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 100955Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0592 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000393
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2019
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PGOV ASEC ER
SUBJECT: GSE ARRESTS 10 MORE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000393
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2019
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PGOV ASEC ER
SUBJECT: GSE ARRESTS 10 MORE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) Eritrean government (GSE) security forces arrested 10
members from the Full Gospel Church in Asmara, during a
mid-October raid at the home of Pastor Tewelde Hailom,
according to a close embassy source. The GSE placed the
pastor under house arrest and sent the other nine church
members to police stations in Asmara (Note: the contact
provided poloff with names of the nine arrested church
members; the list of names has been emailed to DRL. End
Note). Additionally, the GSE confiscated a USB thumbdrive
containing names of the more than 5,000 members of the Full
Gospel Church in Eritrea. The source feared the GSE would be
on a continued hunt to track and possibly arrest the
remaining members. Thus far, the GSE has been unsuccessful
in capturing other church leaders, who had been forewarned of
the mid-October raid and have since fled their homes.
2. (C) COMMENT: The confiscated USB thumbdrive is the first
known incident of the GSE having a full list of members of an
unauthorized religious group. Post believes the GSE will
continue its pursuit of the remaining members of the Full
Gospel Church as that the government views any religious
group outside of the approved four (Catholic, Lutheran,
Muslim, Orthodox) as a threat.
McMULLEN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2019
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PGOV ASEC ER
SUBJECT: GSE ARRESTS 10 MORE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) Eritrean government (GSE) security forces arrested 10
members from the Full Gospel Church in Asmara, during a
mid-October raid at the home of Pastor Tewelde Hailom,
according to a close embassy source. The GSE placed the
pastor under house arrest and sent the other nine church
members to police stations in Asmara (Note: the contact
provided poloff with names of the nine arrested church
members; the list of names has been emailed to DRL. End
Note). Additionally, the GSE confiscated a USB thumbdrive
containing names of the more than 5,000 members of the Full
Gospel Church in Eritrea. The source feared the GSE would be
on a continued hunt to track and possibly arrest the
remaining members. Thus far, the GSE has been unsuccessful
in capturing other church leaders, who had been forewarned of
the mid-October raid and have since fled their homes.
2. (C) COMMENT: The confiscated USB thumbdrive is the first
known incident of the GSE having a full list of members of an
unauthorized religious group. Post believes the GSE will
continue its pursuit of the remaining members of the Full
Gospel Church as that the government views any religious
group outside of the approved four (Catholic, Lutheran,
Muslim, Orthodox) as a threat.
McMULLEN